Police officers in Bawku clashed with officers of Custom Exercise and Preventive Services (CEPS) at the Missiga checkpoint following attempts by some unidentified persons to smuggle cocoa to Togo.
A truck with registration number GX4164-19 was travelling from Kumasi towards Togo and contained cocoa on it.
Scuffle broke between police and CEPS officers when the truck attempted to cross the checkpoint unchecked. This led to exchange of gun fire between the state security apparatus.
The intervention by the military calmed nerves and checks on the truck discovered 40 bags of cocoa beans, cooking oil, pampers and many other items.
Interagency collaboration in guarding Ghana’s borders was seriously questioned when the two security services exchanged gunfire at the checkpoint, turning it into a dangerous and chaotic scene that lasted for several minutes.
The situation has led to widespread concerns and discussions about the coordination between government bodies tasked with safeguarding Ghana’s borders.
Cocoa smuggling has long been a significant issue, with traffickers trying to avoid taxes and duties by illegally transporting goods across borders, particularly to countries like Togo and Ivory Coast.
